Chapter Fifty
Summer sat shivering on the hospital bed. Marissa and Ryan sat right next to her, hugging her tightly. It didn't help. Summer was absorbed in a world of worries, pain, and terror. Her body was panicked, her eyes blood-shot, her face swollen from the acid-like tears that streamed down her face. At least now, she did not have to deal with the tears that happily, carelessly scampered down her cheek. However now, the feeling was much worse. Indescribable. She could not swallow, as her throat was dry and filled with pain- her screaming prior to the hospital visit was to blame. She could feel her heart throbbing in her ears, as the rapid, accelerating beat rhythmically hammered in her ears. Her face was pale- her lips glued together. She could not speak, still she could not hear, think, touch, breath… live. She had an empty, hollow feeling in her stomach, as if everything precious to her was gone. She had a flicker of hope in the deepest corner of her heart, that allowed her to believe that he would make it. She extinguished that hope for the fear that it would drag her down lower than she was already. She couldn't recall a feeling so demeaning, powerless, lifeless, empty. She felt like a pile of nothingness- worthless nothingness. And then out of nowhere, to add to her feeling- she succumbed to the nausea in her stomach, as she leaned over to the garbage can to eliminate her worries. Marissa and Ryan jumped- it was the first motion Summer had made evident in hours- needless to say, this motion was not at all comforting, only more capricious and miserable. Ryan had called Kirsten, and Sandy only a little while ago. The poor things were working late that night at the office- but thank God they hadn't seen what Summer, Marissa and Ryan had. Even as a strong mother, Kirsten would be forever-more scarred. Sandy would weaken at the sight of his lifeless son.
Summer returned to her motionless position. She had exited the emergency room, after she regained consciousness. Since then, she was practically dead. Marissa and Ryan were terrified for both Seth, and Summer. Without Seth, Summer was bound to disintegrate. Everyone gathered there in the name of Seth, was praying silently for him. Kirsten was trying to remain calm, for the sake of Summer- she saw what she was going through, but she felt the same way. She sat down with Sandy, far from Summer so she wouldn't wallow herself. She cuddled to Sandy, occasionally sniffling, and tearing. Sandy breathed hard- his only son was at risk.
Seth had been in the emergency room for hours, now. Nobody was sure of anything. Neither the nurses, nor doctors willed to say anything, in spite of the misery that swathed the room. The sadness was choking everyone, long and hard, prohibiting them to speak, let alone breathe. Finally, a doctor appeared- for all the wrong reasons. Sandy looked up hopefully, but the doctor shrugged and walked down the hall. Everyone was so sure that he came to announce that Seth was alive. They were so sure! Too sure. Too hopeful. Too optimistic. Too everything.
Seconds passed. Minutes. Hours. Heavens know how much time floated away, before anything was said. Sandy took upon the role of being the tough father- the tough, unharmed father. Unharmed. Ha. Even Sandy laughed at that- laughed silently, miserably, swallowed inside of himself.
More intolerable Minutes rolled by. Hours. Eternities. Lifetimes. Light-years. This waiting was gnawing at everyones' skulls as they waited for news. They waited so patiently- hoping for the best. Hoping too much.
Sandy got up, dying from anxiety. Everyone knew where he was going. He walked up to the front desk, with a dire look on his face. He pounded his fists on the front desk, "When the hell will you tell me what in the hell is going on with my son? I've been waiting for Goddamned hours. My son has been shot, for the love of God. Will you please tell me if he is okay?" Sandy begged.
"Sir, I know nothing. When, and if I do, I will let you know. Please, get a coffee- for yourself and your family. You guys look miserable. I'm sorry I can't help- I wish I could." The secretary seemed oddly nice, but Sandy didn't understand, appreciate, know anything that was happening.
"I need to know if my son is alive! I don't need a coffee!" Sandy started to make a scene. The lady looked at him blankly.
"I'm sorry." It was all she could say. It was all she had to say, because Sandy had already erupted with tears- tears of worry, self-pity, smothered hope. "Sir," The secretary tried to calm him down, ineffectively. She didn't understand. She COULDN'T understand. She didn't have a son in emergency on the verge of death- now did she?
When Sandy saw the Doctor walking closer to the Cohen's, he ran back to where they were sitting. "What do you know?" He asked the doctor quickly. The Doctor shook Sandy off of him, pleading him to sit down- the news would be overwhelming.
"We lost him for a few seconds at a time, already a couple of times. His heartbeat is irregular, he's barely breathing. He must love someone a lot- our team of doctors thought we'd loose him for good, a long time ago. But he's holding up. In a very severe condition, he is holding up." The doctor reported. The whole family sighed, slightly relieved- but at the same time, not all. "Miss Roberts?" Summer looked up. She didn't speak- she couldn't speak. "Are you feeling alright? You were pretty beaten as well when we got to the scene. Do you want, need, wish for anything?" Summer didn't move, "Well if you do, just call a doctor, they'll help you. You still look a little," The doctor stopped, "We're doing everything we can to help your son. Everything. Even if he will be stable, it will take a long time for him to get off the drugs. He won't be in visiting condition anytime soon." The doctor said, as he turned on his heel to leave. The family sunk back down to their prolonged misery.
"Marissa, do you want me to take you home?" Ryan said quietly, when he realised Marissa didn't have to be there. Her mother was probably worried for her. Marissa shook her head.
"I want to be here." She said, her eyes tear-filled. Ryan hugged her, sootheing her with gentle whispers. Thank God they had decided to crash, and watch some television instead before they heard the gun shot. When they heard Summer shrieking, they knew something was wrong. They ran faster than a speeding bullet, ironically that's what they were up against.
Summer looked at her hands, that were placed carelessly on her knees- her bones were shaking, while she sat immobile. She stared at them- when she noticed a blotch of red, an immediate flashback stung her mind. She was back at the scene, drenched in Seth's blood. Crying, yelling, hoping for help. Then she could not remember one thing- how she got here, what had happened? She didn't even know. She thought it was better that way.
Kirsten seemed to be mumbling things to herself- prayers. It couldn't be anything else.
Soon, a swarm of everybody came down. Anyone who knew Seth came buzzing in and about, granting 'I'm sorry's' to just about everyone gathered. Tears were shed- but they were fake. The might as well have been plastic, because they were nothing near sincere. Nothing. Summer almost punched the girls that came out to see him- the plastic girls that liked him in his reign of honour. They were crying like sissies- they didn't even know why they were at the hospital. They thought it meant something. Well, it didn't. If Summer could move, she would prove just that. She would drive those skinny btches to the ground. Summer wasn't in the mood for fake pity, fake sorrow, fake boobs. Those little whores wanted to show themselves off- make it seem like they were at all important in Seth's life. Summer could not understand how the news could possibly have travelled so fast. When she saw Anna walk through the doors of summer- Yes, the lovable, shorthaired, witty, Anna- she almost gasped. She tried to smile when She saw the Cohen's, and odd other people gathered in the hallways of the hospital. Her eyes were red, and puffy. When she saw Summer, she went up to hug her.
"Summer, I'm so sorry. I took the first flight I could. This must be so hard for you. I'm so sorry." Anna was the first, sincere person Summer had spoken to throughout the stay at the hospital- which so far hadn't been to pleasant. Summer started to cry on Anna's shoulder- was she the only person in the world, no, universe, that understood what was happening? Summer held her tightly, as she had made the first movements since the vomit. Summer inhaled deeply, as she tried to keep her tears in. She pulled away from Anna's hug, as she looked at her- she hadn't changed one bit; the same old, Anna. "I just want to let you know, I'm not here to cause trouble. Once Seth is better, and I'm reassured, I'm going to leave so you guys can live happily ever after." Anna said earnestly, in her sweet, unique way.
"Anna," That was all Summer could conjure, before she started to cry for the first time since she regained consciousness.
"It's okay, Summer. Seth is going to be fine. He's tough. He needs you. He won't let you go."
The girls sat down, along with the mob of other school kids.
Is Seth okay? I heard he got shot! Oh my gosh! Shot? Yeah! Shot! Is he okay? How's Seth? Who are we here to see? Is he going to be okay? Is he alive?
It was the only thing Summer could hear. She felt so absorbed by it all- the buzz, the howling, the noise.
"Shut up!" Summer stood up, as she looked at the people around, talking incessantly. "Just shut up!" Summer started to cry as she held her head with her hand, "You guys aren't here for Seth. I don't know why you're here! Just leave! You're not going to get the latest news! So SHUT UP! You guys are selfish pigs if you think you can come here, act as if you're family and expect to see him! 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T! And YOU WON'T! You don't KNOW Seth! You NEVER did! So leave while you're ahead! Shut up while you freaking can!" Marissa got up, to hug Summer. She acceptingly buried her head in Marissa's shoulder. The mob was silent. One by one, they started to scatter- silently. Nobody questioned Summer- the Cohen's didn't, Ryan didn't. They understood that this wasn't time for some bull sht chit chat, but time for reflection, prayer, hope, silence!
Another couple hours of utter silence. Summer almost regretted not having the annoying mob of people talking around her- keeping her grounded, keeping her sane. She didn't care though. Now she could think herself, hope, worry, pray. Everything she should be doing- in silence.
The doctor approached them unexpectedly. "You may, if you so wish, visit Seth. I do warn, he is a little beaten, but he is ready for visitation." Sandy looked at Summer.
"Summer, would you like to go first?" He offered, "Go with Kirsten. You deserve it, sweet heart." He said. Summer gulped, looking up at him hopefully.
"Thank you, Mr. Cohen." Summer said, eternally grateful. Kirsten smiled at her, as they walked down the hall together. When they walked into Seth's room, and when they took their first glance at him, they could barely believe it was him. In the dusk it was hard to notice the damage, but now, it was more than clear. Summer cried into Kirsten shoulder.
"Hey," Seth said weakly. Summer realised it was very painful for him to speak, as he wheezed.
"Seth, don't talk. Oh my God, I'm so happy you're alive." Summer said quickly, as she kneeled by his side. "If you died I would never forgive myself. You took that bullet for me. You took it, for ME!" Summer cried out again. "I love you, Seth. Thank you. For everything. For the love, joy, happiness you brought into my life. Thank you for keeping strong, because I know I wouldn't be able to live without you. Thank you Seth." Summer said. She could barely speak- she stuttered the whole way.
"Seth, honey. God, I'm so happy you're alive, my baby." Kirsten said quietly, to Seth only.
"Oh my God!" Summer said, looking over at Seth- who had tried to resist the weight on his eyelids, "He's not breathing!" She yelled. A swarm of doctors came to the room immediately. Summer started to cry, as the doctors started to quickly work their routine.
Kirsten and Summer walked over the door, both burdened, and crying.
"Mrs. Cohen? We've lost him."